CLARK, Albert Henry
| Service Number: | 403 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 November 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Muswellbrook New South Wales, Australia, 13 December 1877 |
| Home Town: | Muswellbrook, Muswellbrook, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fettler |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 29 May 1917, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 403, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 403, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 403, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Albert Henry CLARK, (Service Number 403) was born on 13 December 1877 at Muswellbrook. He first began working for the NSW Railways on 24 July 1900 as a labourer in the per-way branch of the Northern Division He was employed temporarily to 17 December 1902 when he was no longer required, and then again from 3 June 1903 until 24 May 1904. Subsequent periods of employment, or continuous employment are unclear, but on 20 November 1915 when Clark joined the Expeditionary Forces he had a very long railway carer behind him, compared to most recruits. He enlisted on 20 November 1915, giving his calling as ‘fettler’. At that time, he was married, to Alice Ethel whose address was at first given as ‘c/o Post Office Newcastle’ and later as ‘Federal Hotel, Hunter Street, Newcastle.’
He left Australia through Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Benalla’ on 1 May 1916, reaching Plymouth on 9 July.
He was killed in action 29 May 1917 in Belgium. About 11 p.m. at night, after the Australians had released gas to drift across to the enemy lines, the Germans replied with artillery fire and a shell penetrated a bay off the trench system killing Clark and four others. He is buried in Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert Wood, ¼ mile S.S.W of Messines, Wallonie, Belgium.
Submitted 29 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Albert Henry CLARK, (Service Number 403) was born on 13th December 1877 at Muswellbrook. He first began working for the NSW Railways on 24th July 1900 as a labourer in the per-way branch of the Northern Division He was employed temporarily until 17th December 1902 when he was no longer required. He was employed again from 3rd June 1903 until 24th May 1904. Subsequent periods of employment are unclear. Clark joined the Expeditionary Forces on 20th November 1915. He gave his occupation as ‘fettler’. At that time, he was married to Alice Ethel. Her address was at first given as ‘c/o Post Office Newcastle’ and later as ‘Federal Hotel, Hunter Street, Newcastle.’
He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Benalla’ on 1st May 1915. He reached Plymouth in England on 9th July. During the next few months as he underwent further training he was penalised for the crime of being Absent Without Leave for three days in October. He proceeded overseas to France on 21 November and taken on the strength of the 35th Australian Infantry Battalion. In late January he was admitted to hospital with lumbago, sent to the Divisional Rest Station until early February, returned to hospital three days later with bronchitis and finally re-joined the Battalion on 18 May.
He was killed in action 29 May 1917 in Belgium. About 11 p.m. at night, after the Australians had released gas to drift across to the enemy lines, the Germans replied with artillery fire and a shell penetrated a bay off the trench system killing Clark and four others. He is buried in Strand Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert Wood, ¼ mile S.S.W of Messines, Wallonie, Belgium. There are no records as to whether this was the original burial place or a rationalised post-war one, but there is a letter surviving from his widow stating that she does not wish his remains to be relocated.
Probate documents establish that Albert and Alice Clark had an infant child, Alberta Lillian at the time of his death.
(NAA B2455-1966346)